Sports -SPORTS/briefly June 12,2000 06/12/00

Frenship senior-to-be Sage Thames added another title to his list this weekend, winning the pole vault at the Golden West Invitational in Sacramento, Calif.

He cleared 17-7, a half-inch better than his previous best, 17-61/2, which he cleared in winning the state Class 4A championship last month.

Thames also won the Maree Rodenbaugh Award, which is given to the athlete determined to exhibit the best sportsmanship and the most inspirational behavior at the meet.

Hamilton, Miami agree on buyout

MIAMI University of Miami basketball coach Leonard Hamilton agreed to a contract buyout and plans to become coach of the Washington Wizards.

He is expected to announce Monday his decision to accept Michael Jordan's offer to coach the Wizards. Jordan contacted Hamilton last week.

The university agreed to accept $1 million for releasing Hamilton from the seven-year contract extension he signed in April, The Miami Herald reported Sunday. The school had been asking for $2 million.

''We have come to an agreement that is satisfactory to both the university and Leonard,'' said Roland Stone a Board of Trustees member.

Hamilton's new contract is worth about $750,000 per year. The Wizards are offering Hamilton $2 million per year over five years, four of which are guaranteed.

NBA, NHL playoff ratings up

NEW YORK Both the NBA and NHL enjoyed higher ratings for weekend games in their championship series.

Overnight numbers for NBC's coverage of Friday night's Game 2 of the NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Indiana Pacers showed a 12.5 rating and 23 share. That's a 25 percent increase from 1999, when Game 2 of the series between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs produced a 10.0 rating and 19 share in the overnights.

ABC's telecast of Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals between the New Jersey Devils and Dallas Stars on Saturday night produced a 5.2 overnight rating and 11 share. The rating was 28.7 in Dallas and 7.0 in New York, home market for the Devils.